My dear friends,

We are here tonight to honor those who have continued to support Temple Sinai for a half century! And that is a degree of faithfulness which fully deserves to be both acknowledged and appreciated. My congratulations to those visionary Temple leaders who have conceived and labored to make the L'dor V'dor events a reality (Matt Greenbaum, Bill Mimeles, Sue and Herbert Barton, Sandy Levy, Betty Zivitz, Andrea Cohn, and others).

Last Wednesday evening it was my unforgettable pleasure to attend the opera, La Boheme, at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Its emotion, its colorful sets, and dazzling vocal expression by world class artists made that performance one of the supremely enjoyable musical experiences of my life. At its conclusion, virtually everyone of the many thousands who filled the Opera House was on their feet applauding this glorious and lush production by Franco Zeffirelli.

But, it wasn't always that way! I learned that La Boheme was not at first popular. In fact, after its 1896 premier in Turin, Italy, one very self-assured critic made this prediction about Puccini's masterpiece:

Just as La Boheme does not leave much impression
in the mind of the listeners, it will not leave much
impression on the history of our lyric theater.

There were surely know-it-alls in the Jewish community then, as there are now, who were quick to criticize and characterize this pioneering group's efforts to institute a foothold of liberal Judaism in the Crescent City.

Undoubtedly, the intentions and motivations of our founders were unfairly and inaccurately described by the orthodox as being "outrageous," the adherents of a "religion of convenience," "desecrators of traditions," or even advocates of desertion from Judaism.

Like La Boheme, the passage of time was the true test and the majesty, the sanity, the faithfulness of Reform Judaism and those who first advanced it, have been proven over and over again. It is hard to argue with success-then and now!

The critics of Reform were more than silenced. Over the first two or three decades of Sinai's history, its antagonists were themselves co-opted, they and their congregations choosing to become members of that very same Reform Movement in which our Temple Sinai and its Rabbi had become a major influence.

And now, 132 years later, we remain the largest, and I believe with all my heart, the best articulation of Reform Judaism to be found in this city and state. But, it hasn't happened without a share of bruises, struggles, and sacrifices of all sorts. By its nature, liberal Judaism is chaotic. We are not God's "Frozen People"! We evolve and we elect to change when change is prudent.

So tonight we want to say a most heartfelt "thank you" for your half century of commitment to this historic and forward-looking congregation. You have stuck with us through at least four senior rabbis, controversies over philosophies, new prayer books, endowment campaigns, dues assessments, building funds, changes of Hebrew pronunciation, Israel flags, let's say "a colorful array" of assistant rabbis, and the adoption of a cantor/rabbi clergy team. You are the ones, and no one will forget it, who have, by your loyalty, made the historic flowering and unfolding of this first home of Reform Judaism in New Orleans possible.

It is a proud story. It is a continuing story, and may God bless our Temple Sinai with an ever-increasing family of supportive members who, just like you, are honored and privileged to serve our people on this adventure and on this journey of faith.

Thank you!